Improvement in tension devices for grain-binder wire-spools



T. J. FOSTER. Tension Device for Grain-Binder Wire-Spools.

No. 222,777. Patented Dec. 23, 1879.

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NJETERS, FHQIO-LITMOERAPMER. WASHINGTON, u c.

Unrrnn Srnrns THOMAS J. FOSTER, OF GRANGER, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT lN TENSlON DEVICES FOR GRAIN-BINDER WIRE-SPOOLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,777, dated December 23, 1879; application filed May 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. Fosrnn, of Granger, St. Joseph county, State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tension Devicesvfor Grain Binder \Vire- Spools, of which the following is a full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top or plan view, Fig. 2 a side elevation, Figs. 3, 4, and 5 details of the tension-applying device. v

In binding grain with wire, if the wire is not taken from the spool under some degree of tension it is liable to kink or coil up and interfere with the operation. of binding; and this tension must be of the same degree as that required for compressing and tying.

The object of this invention is to construct a tension device for the binding-wire which will automatically adjust itself so as to give the required tension to the wire as it is unwound from the spool, and which will be selfadjusting in reference to the amount of pressure exerted as the wire is gradually unwound; and its nature consists in providing afriction device arranged to come in contact with the face of the head or end flange of the wirespool, and operate thereon at a point beyond or outside of the center of motion of the spool, or in the direction in which the wire is being unwound, so that the downward pressure of a projection or plate is made to bear against the wire on the spool; in providing an adjustablypivoted arm or support carrying the frictionapplying device, and in the several combinations of devices hereinafter claimed as new.

In the drawings, A represents the core or shaft of the spool; B, the standards for the spool; G, the heads or end flanges; D E, the arms or supports for the friction device; F, the friction-flange or guide-plate for the arm; G, the standard or post supporting one end of the arm; a, the friction heads or disks; 1) c, the set-screws d, the bolt or pivot of the arms or bars D E.

The wire-spool is journaled in suitable bearings provided therefor in the upper ends of the standards B, and is of the ordinary construction of such spools, having a central core or shaft, A, and end flanges or heads, 0, the inner and outer faces of which are straight or vertical.

The friction device shown consists of twometal heads or disks, a, one of which bears against the inner, and the other against the outer, face of one of the end flanges, C. These heads or disks are so arranged as to bear against the flange at a point beyond the center of motion of the spool, and their hearing point in relation to such center of motion will vary in the same ratio as the amount of wire on the spool is increased or diminished, so that the tension on the wire will be governed by the position of the friction device relative to the center of motion, and this position will correspond to the resistance required in all cases, as the device will regulate itself to the amount of wire on the spool and the tension required therefor, to do which the friction device is made self-changeable in its bearing position.

In the form shown this is accomplished by rigidly attaching the disks or heads a. to two bars, D E, so that the one attached to D will bear upon the inside, and the one attached to E upon the outside of the spool head or flange, as shown in Fig. 1, at a point beyond the center of motion. These bars or supports D E extend back some distance, and are pivoted at d to the support or post G, and, as shown, the bar D is made rigid throughout its entire length, while a portion of the bar E is formed so as to act as a spring for the purpose of regulating the pressure of the heads a on the flange, the amount of pressure being controlled by the set-screws b c, or in some other suitable manner.

The friction flange or plate F is secured .to the inner bar, D, and is properly curved to fit the wire on the spool. When the spool is put in motion the action of the clamp is not only to retard it, but, as the clamp contact is beyond the axis of the spool, its further action is to carry the friction-plate F down on the wire with a pressure that decreases as the clamp descends, for the reason that as the wire decreases the clamp contact comes nearer to the center, by reason of its descent below the pivot d, and thereby decreases the pressure of I the plate F on the wire coil, and thereby regulates this pressure to the quantity of wire on the spool. The plate F being rigidly secured to the bar D, and the said ba'r being adjustable on the standard G, as shown, the frictional contact of the plate F against the wire coil can be increased or diminished by raising or lowering the pivot d on the post G. The plate F also acts as a support for the double ar'mD E, to prevent it from descending faster than is required to adjust the pressure as the wire is gradually unwound. A pin or other device might be used for this purpose. This arrangement gives the spool a double friction device, both of which devices to a certain extent are self-adjusting. '7

The standards 13 are to be secured in proper position on the frame-Work of the binder to allow the wire to be unwound from the spool for binding.

In use, as the wire is taken from the spool, it will cause the spool to revolve, and as the spool revolvesits movement will cause the friction device to be carried toward the center of the spool, which descending movement will correspond to the removal of the wire; and as the friction device descends it will travel in a segment of a circle approaching the center of motion, which change necessarily decreases the amount of tension placed upon the wire, so that it will regulateitself to the tension desired.

The arm 1) might be made a spring-arm, and this arm might be arranged to bear upon the other end of the spool, in which latter case the friction would be applied to both ends of the spool.

This construction would require a third arm, to project over the spool and rest on the wire to prevent a too rapid descent of the friction device.

Other forms of friction devices than the metal heads or disks can be used to bear against the end flanges or heads, and such devices can be supported in some other manner than by the pivoted support, so long as they will operate to approach the center as the wire is uncoiled.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the flange or head of a wire-carrying spool, a tension device 10- cated and operating to applyits pressure on the face of the flange or head at a point beyond the axis of rotation of the 'spool in the direction of its movement, for producing a draft downward or toward the axis, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In combination with the flange or head of a wire-carrying spool, a tension device applying the pressure directly to the face of the flange or head and wire coil beyond the center of motion, and traveling in a segment of a circle, to change the degree of pressure as the wire is unwound, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination of the flange or head 0 with the heads or disks (1. and arms or bars D E, and an adjustable pivot, 61, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

at. The disks or heads a, arms D E, and friction-plate F, in combination with a wire-carrying spool, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

THOMAS J. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. SHAFFER, LEVI RINGLE. 

